W. S. Gilbert

You've no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself-and how little I deserve it.

No one can have a higher opinion of him than I have, and I think he's a dirty little beast.

When everyone is somebody, then no one's anybody.

Things are seldom what they seem, skim milk masquerades as cream.

My object all sublime I shall achieve in time...

If you wish in this world to advance, your merits you're bound to enhance; You must stir it and stump it, and blow your own trumpet, or trust me, you haven't a chance.

Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.